Eco-friendly Kenya – leading the way in sustainability : Kenya is setting the standard for environmentally friendly tourism by carefully balancing the needs of locals, visitors, and conservation to preserve the wild for as long as possible. Here are examples of how Kenya is changing the world: eco-lodges, elephant orphanages, and a ban on single-use plastics.

Eco-friendly Kenya

Creating conservancies.

Observe stunning Kenyan wildlife, like as these cubs of lions, when you go on a customized vacation. Kenya’s conservancies are a key component of its success. Certain regions of the nation, like Laikipia, have been split up into private reserves. These reserves are frequently governed by indigenous people, such as the Masai Mara National Reserve and Samburu National Reserve, who make money by renting out their property to lodges and providing small-scale safari experiences. As a result, these reserves develop into a safe haven for species that is rich in biodiversity, benefiting people, tourists, and wildlife alike.

Hence, by staying at campgrounds like Mara Bushtops in the Isaaten Conservancy, you can directly contribute to funding initiatives for local communities and animals. The opulent five-star tented camp features hot tubs with views of the plains teeming with wildlife, a spa and pool, and round-the-clock butler service. Since Bushtops is located on a conservancy, it is able to provide extra activities like walking safaris and night drives, which are not allowed in the neighboring Maasai Mara National Park.

Eco-friendly Kenya : Working with communities.

Kenya has discovered that without community support, tourism is just not sustainable. In addition to conservancies, there are numerous tourism initiatives with a community focus that bring in money for the locals. For example, you might visit the Go Granny Go. Project in Nairobi, which assists grandmothers in starting pig farming enterprises to support their families. You’ll also gain a unique understanding of Kenyan culture by cooking lunch with the women and hearing their motivational tales during the tour.

Governors’ and other safari camps have been working with the community for decades. In addition to creating jobs for the community, they also fund healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and initiatives to save animals. A portion of your stay at Governors’ directly supports the Maasai community of Mara Rianda, which you can tour in a respectful manner. In a similar vein, Kenya’s Porini camps provide funding for conservancies such as Selenkay in Amboseli; each tent contributes to the preservation of 700 acres of habitat, and approximately 95% of the personnel are from the surrounding villages.

Eco-friendly Kenya
Working with the Masai community

Going green.

In an effort to clean up its towns and save wildlife, Kenya implemented one of the strictest bans on single-use plastic bags in the world in 2017. Another historic ban on single-use plastic, encompassing bottles, straws, containers, cups, cutlery, and food packaging, went into force in conservation zones in 2020. Because of this, a lot of lodges like Tawi in Amboseli have eliminated all plastic and implemented other environmentally friendly practices, such growing organic vegetable gardens.

Luxurious oceanfront resorts on Kenya’s coast, such as the UNESCO-listed Hemingways Watamu, host weekly beach clean-ups and have integrated environmentally friendly water treatment systems. Seek for hotels such as Tawi and Loisaba Tented Camp that have earned Gold Eco-Tourism ratings. Both put up a lot of effort to reduce waste, utilize solar energy, and preserve wildlife habitat.

Eco-friendly Kenya : Wildlife rehabilitation.

Kenya has multiple sanctuaries and rehabilitation facilities that are vital in the preservation of the country’s wildlife. The most effective elephant rescue and rehabilitation initiative is managed by Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi. In addition Kenya offers a safe haven to the last two norther white rhinos that can be found at Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

They live in constant protection on a 90,000-acre conservancy that was formerly a cattle ranch. Feed the blind black rhino, Baraka, and see about thirty southern white rhinos that have been saved from extinction. The Sweetwater’s chimpanzee sanctuary is the only location in Kenya where chimpanzees can be seen was established in collaboration with Jane Goodall Institute.

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